TEAM TALK
- Patriots - Texans Thursday Injury Report.
- Don Banks spends some time comparing and reflecting on the 49ers and Patriots dynasties, 15 and 35 years after they began.
- Conference Call Transcript: Tom Brady.
- Patriots Locker Room Quotes.
- What They're Saying: New England Patriots.
- Patriots Press Pass: Edelman, Long, Amendola and Flowers address the media in the locker room: 'No game's guaranteed' (1.50 min. video)
- Highlights: Every Patriots Divisional Playoff game with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. (5.45 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss reports Tom Brady says coach Bill Belichick has made it clear that they can't afford a letdown against Houston and its No. 1-ranked defense.
- Jeff Howe finds steady Tom Brady doesn’t change his pre-game methodologies to accommodate the urgency of the NFL postseason.
- Phil Perry reports Tom Brady is in the running for his third MVP, but he's not focused on winning it. "It's about what this team can accomplish."
- Bill Speros talks about the magic number that 'remains the most-unbreakable, the most-untouchable, the greatest you-will-never-see-approached-again number in Boston sports lore: Thirty-nine.'
- Christopher Price suggests that if they're all healthy, the Patriots should dress all five receivers Saturday. Go all in.
- Jeff Howe talks up the significant challenge posed by the Texans defense, and suggests we watch to see how Tom Brady and the Patriots work to overcome it.
- Phil Perry hears Rob Ninkovch talk up LT Duane Brown, who did not play at Gillette Stadium back in September: "He's got it all."
- Mike Reiss observes that Dion Lewis' workload -- and production -- have increased as the season has progressed -- and they've never lost a game with him on the field.
- Jonathan Lyons (DirtyWaterMedia) Marcus Cannon and Nate Solder are keys to beating Houston.
- Christopher Price highlights Julian Edelman on playing Houston: The Texans 'will be the best team we've played so far.'
- Mike Reiss reports Malcolm Mitchell's status remains in question for Saturday, as he is listed as a limited participant (knee) at practice.
- James Toscano explains why Malcolm Mitchell could be the X-factor for the Pats in the playoffs.
- Ryan Hannable talks about how Jacoby Brissett is proving even a 3rd-string rookie QB can be a leader for the Patriots. /Good read.
- James Toscano gives us three things to watch for Saturday: Ground control.
- Ron Borges notes Bill O'Brien urges his team to learn from it's past mistakes vs. Patriots, and to come out fighting to avoid getting knocked out.
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Five players to watch against the Texans.
- The Herald looks at head-to-head key matchups: Tom Brady vs. Romeo Crennel.
- Adam Kurkjian Texans Notes: DeAndre Hopkins won’t make prediction.
- Doug Kyed Patriots Mailbag: Assessing 2015 draft class after two regular seasons.
- Chad Finn's Unconventional Preview: Patriots-Texans looks like a mismatch, and it probably will be.
- Michael Hurley questions the NFL's stability before making his Divisional Weekend picks. /Don't blink or you'll miss his NE-HOU preview.
- Jim Lazar argues how tough it is to do anything good two times in a row, and makes his Divisional Round picks. Pats 49-7.
- Matt Dolloff wonders just how much fans care whether or not Roger Goodell ever shows up to Gillette Stadium. /Personally I'd rather he didn't.
- Danny Picard is already on to the AFC Championship game and would prefer the Steelers over the Chiefs.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Steve Palazzolo (Pro Football Focus) How Tom Brady has earned the highest PFF grade ever this season.
- Greg A. Bedard (SI) Blanket Coverage: Lessons new coaches can take from the Belichick Blueprint.
- Kyle Hightower (AP) Newcomer Floyd could be X-factor for Patriots in playoffs.
- Thomas George (SB Nation)Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel's shared passion for football comes full circle in the NFL playoffs.
- Sarah Barshop and Mike Reiss (ESPN) Texans will need perfect plan to beat heavily favored Patriots.
- Stephen White (SB Nation) Jadeveon Clowney became a monster when the Texans made him an outside linebacker.
- Steve Young (ESPN) How do the Texans slow down Brady? (38 sec. video)
- Video (SI) Peter King, Albert Breer and Andrew Perloff break down the four divisional round games in the NFL playoffs. (video)
- Marc Sessler (NFL.com) Divisional Round primer: Texans vs. Patriots. Pats 37-9.
- Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) NFL Divisional Round picks. Patriots 29-13.
- Phil Steele (NY Post) Don’t count on Texans giving repeat performance vs. Patriots.
- Andrew Bucholtz (Awful Announcing) Ian O’Connor discusses his infamous "Patriots will regret hiring Belichick" column.
- Derek Thompson (The Atlantic) How superstar economics is killing the NFL's ratings. /Good read. A league that values parity above all (besides profits) can't at the same time celebrate its unique superstars.
- Chris Mottram (UPROXX) How I learned to finally stop caring about the NFL. /Helps that he's a Bills fan.
VIEW FROM HOUSTON
- Stephanie Stradley (Houston Chronicle) Experts try to find Patriots' Death Star exhaust port vulnerability. /Really good read.
- Amy Trask (Houston Chronicle) A well-earned respect for Krafts and Patriots, but it was a fumble. /Also worth a read.
- Drew Dougherty (HoustonTexans) First Glance: Texans at Patriots.
- John McClain (Houston Chronicle) Ball security crucial for Texans' Brock Osweiler.
- Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) Texans' DeAndre Hopkins limited with knee injury.
- Sarah Barshop (ESPN) Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus has been marvelous in playoffs.
- The Sports Xchange (UPI) Houston Texans' Ryan Griffin returns home to face New England Patriots.
- Reid Laymance (Houston Chronicle) Klein's Eric Rowe didn't root for Texans.
- Report (AP) Texans battling history as Patriots loom.
- John McClain (Houston Chronicle) The Sports Update: On Tom Brady, Patriots. (2.39 min. video)
- John McClain (Houston Chronicle) 2016 Divisional Round predictions. Patriots 34-16.